Help:Teachers Lunch -Gluten Free & Vegetarian

[disneycruising]

I am looking to my very knowledgeable DIS friend for some help with our teachers lunch on Friday.

I am suppose to be bringing a dishes for the teachers lunch on Friday that is both gluten free and vegetarian. I am planning on taking a fruit plate & veggie tray. But I can not come up with a main dish to take. Does anyone know of something that I could take for a main dish?

One of the other mom's is bringing in a rice salad, green salad and a dessert.

 

[mjkacmom]

Try finding a recipe for a mexican casserole with corn tortillas? Google vegetarian enchaladas.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

- stir-fry served with rice

- bean burritos made with corn tortillas.

- home-made vegetable soup

- quinoa-stuffed peppers http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/10896

 

[kwelch10377]

You might want to consider getting a pre-prepared dish from Whole Foods or some place like that, if you are not use to preparing gluten free food. You have to be super careful serving someone who has to eat gluten free and not just the ingredients, but also that environment and utensils that is prepared with. I know several people that have eaten something that was gluten free and ended up sick bc it some how or another was contaminated with something that had gluten in it. My boss said that it only takes one little crumb to cause an issue.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

You might want to consider getting a pre-prepared dish from Whole Foods or some place like that, if you are not use to preparing gluten free food. You have to be super careful serving someone who has to eat gluten free and not just the ingredients, but also that environment and utensils that is prepared with. I know several people that have eaten something that was gluten free and ended up sick bc it some how or another was contaminated with something that had gluten in it. My boss said that it only takes one little crumb to cause an issue.

I would think that anyone who is that sensitive to gluten would refuse to eat ANY food made by someone else...

 

[Ceila]

I would think that anyone who is that sensitive to gluten would refuse to eat ANY food made by someone else...

MTE. If such extreme care needs to be taken, I honestly wouldn't trust someone I don't know to be familiar enough with the necessary precautions.

 

[MIGrandma]

There are gluten free lasagna noodles, so I would make a pan of lasagna to take, unless the person/people can't have dairy either. I would find that out, of course. But if dairy isn't a problem, you can omit the meat/hamburger in traditional lasagna and just add a lot of veggies (spinach, zucchini, summer squash, carrots, etc.). Gluten free lasagna noodles are, of course, more expensive than regular but they cook just the same. You can get them at health food stores, some grocery stores like Meijer too. There are many other gluten free pastas too, so you could make just about any kind of pasta dish with those.

There are a lot of cooking/recipe web sites, many of those have a lot of good gluten free recipes as well.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

How about fried rice made with brown rice, veggies and egg white.

 

[java]

how about stuffed mushrooms?

Gluten Free Stuffed Mushroomsprint friendly recipe
1 cup parsley, chopped
½ cup sun dried tomatoes
½ cup pine nuts
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
¼ cup olive oil
1 (8) ounce package mushrooms
In a food processor, place parsley and pulse briefly
Add sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice and salt, then pulse until almost smooth
Drizzle in olive oil and pulse again briefly to incorporate
Remove stems from mushrooms and stuff with pesto
Bake at 350° for 30-45 minutes
Serve
Serves 4

 

[cclovesdis]

There are gluten free lasagna noodles, so I would make a pan of lasagna to take, unless the person/people can't have dairy either. I would find that out, of course. But if dairy isn't a problem, you can omit the meat/hamburger in traditional lasagna and just add a lot of veggies (spinach, zucchini, summer squash, carrots, etc.). Gluten free lasagna noodles are, of course, more expensive than regular but they cook just the same. You can get them at health food stores, some grocery stores like Meijer too. There are many other gluten free pastas too, so you could make just about any kind of pasta dish with those.

There are a lot of cooking/recipe web sites, many of those have a lot of good gluten free recipes as well.

I've also read that you can use eggplant instead of the lasagna noodles. You can also buy gluten free "bread" crumbs and make eggplant parmesean. I've actually eaten them and found them quite good. The ones I had are also dairy free. Also, you do have to confirm that the cheese you use is gluten free. There are great websites that will help with that.

My suggestion, FWIW, is to make something that is naturally gluten free. The fruit plate is a great idea. It's probably harder because it has to be vegetarian too. The person I know who is GF eats a lot of meat and potatoes type foods. The PP's suggestions are great. Like I said, you do have to confirm that the ingredients you use are gluten free. Someone once told me that she could not confirm that the store brand (of our local large supermarket) are gluten free. I'm referring to things like butter, milk, cheese, mustard (this is a big one), beans, etc. Cross-contimination is a big concern. I'm lactose intolerant and I worry about eating foods that someone else prepared. I would not at all be surprised if the PPs who mentioned that the person who eats GF might not eat it because of cross-contimination are 100% correct. I commend you for taking on such a responsibility and for asking for help. Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

My gluten free friend likes lettuce wraps...carrots, radishes, cucumbers, maybe some gluten free noodles with some gluten free dressing (or balsamic vinegar-IDK if that's GF though), check Trader Joe's or the health food section of your store?

Personally, as a teacher, I would hope that there were options besides the gluten free/veggie items available for lunch on this day...and I don't even eat a lot of meat. This is just a really tough menu to take on, I wish you the best of luck and it is so nice of you to take this on!

 

[disneycruising]

Thank you guys for all the wonderful information. I knew that if I asked here someone would help me.

I think I will go to whole food tomorrow and look around. It has been a while since I have been in there.

I have 2 boys with life threatening food allergies...so I understand the risk involved with taking on this lunch. I personally 'hate' it when people leave my boys out of things because of there allergies. So, I want to make sure I send in something that works for everyone's dietery needs. I do understand that they might choose no to eat it and that is fine. I will try my best... to have some thing for everyone.